Mumbai ATS Arrests Rapido Rider Over Alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed Links; Police Say Masood Azhar Audio Clips Found on His Phone

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a suspect allegedly linked to the banned terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) from Mumbai's Mahim area. The accused has been identified as 33-year-old Mohammad Hasan Abu Sarmad Akhtar.

According to investigators, he worked as a Rapido bike rider and sold perfume. After questioning by the ATS's Kalachowki unit, he was handed over to Mahim police, who have now taken him into their custody.

Arrested Near Mahim Metro Station

On 21 October, the ATS received information that a Mahim resident was involved in suspicious activities. He was allegedly in contact with an agent of a Pakistani intelligence agency.

Acting on this, an ATS team laid a trap near Mahim Metro station and caught Mohammad Hasan. After taking him into custody, the investigation team closely examined his mobile phone and social media profiles.

Police are now looking into his foreign contacts. They are also trying to find out whether he was receiving any specific instructions from across the border.

Provocative Posts on Social Media

According to the investigating agency, the accused posted inflammatory comments on political and religious issues on Instagram and X between 4 May and 18 October.

On 8 September, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mumbai, a highly objectionable comment was posted from the accused's Instagram account. It referred to the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Posts on religious places and other sensitive issues from the same account also carried a call for jihad. The investigation team has preserved 39 screenshots of these comments as evidence.

Masood Azhar Audio Clips Found on Phone

The ATS investigation has found that the accused was the admin of an active Telegram group with two other members. On 1 June, two audio speeches by JeM chief Masood Azhar were uploaded to this group. One of them related to the Babri Masjid.

The accused was also found to be connected to a Pakistan-backed radical Telegram channel. Initial checks of his WhatsApp and Facebook accounts found no objectionable material. However, forensic analysis of other digital evidence recovered from his phone is still under way.

Case Registered Under Section 196(1) of BNS

According to Kishor Pawar, senior police inspector, Mahim police station, an FIR has been registered against the accused under Section 196(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charge is promoting enmity and ill will between different groups.

Police are now investigating whether these online activities are linked to a larger sleeper cell network, or whether any other local associate is involved. The accused is currently in police custody and is being questioned continuously.